Frank Field tells government to step in to stop Sure Start cuts

Field, who published his report on poverty and life chances in December, told The Times newspaper that the government needed to step in to stop the cuts to children’s centres.

He said: "The government needs to urgently step in. They are going to have to grow up, stop being King Canute and realise if they don’t do something about Sure Start they are going to be overwhelmed by the incoming tide of local authority cuts."

Referring to research conducted by 4Children and the Daycare Trust, Field said there is now evidence of the potential consequences of the government’s localism agenda.

"We are in a difficult phase," he said. "They are keeping to their localism commitment, but now there is evidence on just how dangerous localism can be. I see Sure Start as the biggest agent of change for addressing poverty and increasing social mobility in this country, but some local authorities are cutting it in half, even though the cut in their budget is 11 per cent."

Responding to Field’s comments, 4Children chief executive Anne Longfield said the next few weeks are "make or break" for the Sure Start programme.

"Government ministers insist that adequate resources have been provided to protect Sure Start, some local authorities say they haven’t. Parents don’t want to hear central and local government playing pass the political parcel. They just want to know that their children’s centre is here to stay."